I was doing a deep dive on RUclips for a word for word exploration of 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4, and Romans mention of spiritual gifts. This happened after reevaluating everything I have learned from popular Christian culture and then added to my understanding of the scriptures. When looking at the interlinear Greek and English NKJV in these sections, I was shocked to start to question if there was any strong argument for the gifts being personal endowments at all. We all supply what is provided by God. I started to have my mind absolutely blown when I stripped away what I was applying to it to try to see what was there. Manifestations of One Spirit and the giving of grace and all the benefits of the Holy Spirit to the church, even the giving of equipped individuals to the church for a purpose in its foundation. But shockingly I don’t read in it now any strong indication of individual special spiritual gifts. This is very concerning to me considering how much popular Christian media encourages growing spiritual gifts “of the Spirit”. I knew there were some red flags before. But I now am wondering, have we read 1 Corinthians 12 and other mentions of spiritual gifts through such a lens that permits special personal “callings” that aren’t actually biblical? Not to say we don’t have callings, but in Esther though we may be made for such a time as this, if we do not do it, someone else will. This breaks down all of the biblical justification many charismatics have for so much of what they do / worship / value. I am probably going to need to sit with a teaching pastor at my church on this topic because I am flabbergasted. Thank you for sharing your conversation. I noticed only after listening to half of it that it was only posted 6 days ago. I hope to see more discussing this in a sound way.
Great topic! Thank you.
Amen, thank you!
I was doing a deep dive on RUclips for a word for word exploration of 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4, and Romans mention of spiritual gifts. This happened after reevaluating everything I have learned from popular Christian culture and then added to my understanding of the scriptures. When looking at the interlinear Greek and English NKJV in these sections, I was shocked to start to question if there was any strong argument for the gifts being personal endowments at all. We all supply what is provided by God. I started to have my mind absolutely blown when I stripped away what I was applying to it to try to see what was there. Manifestations of One Spirit and the giving of grace and all the benefits of the Holy Spirit to the church, even the giving of equipped individuals to the church for a purpose in its foundation. But shockingly I don’t read in it now any strong indication of individual special spiritual gifts. This is very concerning to me considering how much popular Christian media encourages growing spiritual gifts “of the Spirit”. I knew there were some red flags before. But I now am wondering, have we read 1 Corinthians 12 and other mentions of spiritual gifts through such a lens that permits special personal “callings” that aren’t actually biblical? Not to say we don’t have callings, but in Esther though we may be made for such a time as this, if we do not do it, someone else will. This breaks down all of the biblical justification many charismatics have for so much of what they do / worship / value. I am probably going to need to sit with a teaching pastor at my church on this topic because I am flabbergasted. Thank you for sharing your conversation. I noticed only after listening to half of it that it was only posted 6 days ago. I hope to see more discussing this in a sound way.
Paul told the Corinthians I would like you all to speak in tongues but in a church gathering it’s more profitable to prophecy